Freedom of Information request - Request for GIS Shapefile with all London Underground and Overground stations
Request ID: FOI-0579-2223 Date published: 28 June 2022
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
Please can you supply the source data in a geographic format (e.g. ESRI shapefile) for all Greater London including Underground stations, Overground, Docklands Light Railway and National Rail services, which is currently accurate and up to date. Please can this information include easting and northing coordinates, post code, TFL zone and which line/service the station belongs to.
We answered
TfL Ref: 0579-2223
Thank you for your request received by us on 8 June 2022 asking for source data in a geographic format for all rail networks in Greater London.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked for:
the source data in a geographic format (e.g. ESRI shapefile) for all Greater London including Underground stations, Overground, Docklands Light Railway and National Rail services, which is currently accurate and up to date. Please can this information include easting and northing coordinates, post code, TFL zone and which line/service the station belongs to.
In accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply the information you have requested as it is subject to statutory exemptions to the right of access to information, under Section 38(1)(b) and Section 24 of the Act.
In this instance these exemptions have been applied as disclosure of the information requested would be likely to adversely affect the safety and security of Transport for London (TfL) and National Rail employees, members of the general public as well as national security.
Disclosure of this information to you has to be regarded as a disclosure to ‘the public at large’. This information could potentially be obtained and utilised by individuals who may wish to use this detailed level technical information to cause disruption or harm to the various services referenced in your request.
Such disclosure could compromise security and safety preparedness on the rail networks of interest, placing members of the public, National Rail and TfL staff at risk by highlighting areas on these networks which could be susceptible to being targeted. It is our concern that the release of details about the operating environment in particular, could be combined with other information already in the public domain to help plan an attack.
Whilst we make no suggestion that you would use the information for anything other than your own personal interest, London Underground and the aforementioned rail systems are an attractive terrorist target for several reasons including its importance to London and the knock on effect to the nation’s economy if it is disrupted. In addition to the publicity gained from attacking an iconic transport system such as the Tube for example and its direct access to the capital’s financial hubs. Additionally, there is the attractiveness of these rail systems for a mass casualty attack due to their open, mass transport nature.
The use of these exemptions is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognise the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, but in this instance the public interest in applying the exemption, in order to minimise risks to operational resilience, safe operation of both rail and Tube networks, the welfare of staff and members of the general public, outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
In applying this exemption we have taken into account the tribunal decision referred to in the following link:
However, a geographically accurate representation showing London Underground, Overground, Docklands Light Railway and National Rail lines and stations only as of 2014,is provided in the attached map. A ‘future’ projection of the Elizabeth line network is also featured and referred to as Crossrail, which was in construction at the time..
If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.
Yours sincerely
Jasmine Howard FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
